Mold press



Sept. 1 7, 1963 A. E. CALCHERA ETAL MOLD PRESS Filed Feb. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 56 57 47 73 74 44 4| 2? as as 72 75 f f 24 rm 7 FIG 3 ,ss 38 5s 4o 45 56 4s 49 70 I; I

50 3s 1 E 9 77 24 32 Q Q 29 e4 36 l FIG I INVENTORS.

ALBERT E OALCHERA A TORNEY.

United States Patent Ofi Patented Sept. 17, 1963 ice 3,103,701 MOLD IRESS Albert E. Calchera and Frank J. Bucci, Trumbull, CeniL,

assignors to The Product'o Machine Company, Bridgeport, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 90,676 13 Qlaims. (Cl. Iii-16) The present invention relates to presses in general, and particularly to a new and improved press having platens that are movable toward and from each other.

In the art of plastic blow molding, presses are employed which have movable platens, each of which supports separate registering halves of dies that receive the parison of plastic prior to their closing, and the subsequent application of fluid pressure to the interior of the parison forces the plastic into contact with the inner walls of the die to form a desired plastic article.

An object of this invention is to provide a press having simultaneously movable platens that are operated by a single piston and cylinder means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a press in which the platens as a group may be adjusted transversely of the bed of the press.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a press in which the platens as a group can be adjusted longitudinally of the bed of the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a press in which the daylight between the platens may be readily varied.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a press in which for each increment of movement of one platen there is a corresponding increment of movement of the other platen in the opposite direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a press in which the platens can be adjusted as a group elevationalwise.

In one aspect of the invention, a vertically adjustable, horizontally disposed bed frame member may support three aligned, spaced plate members, two of which act as the platens of the press, while the third supports a cylinder in which a piston, that is connected to one of the platens, reciprocates for causing movement of the press platens toward and from each other.

In another aspect of the invention, all three plates are slidable along ways on the bed frame member, and a linkage is provided between the one platen and the third plate for causing them simultaneously to move in opposite directions an equal amount when fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder and piston device. The platen not connected to the piston is connected to the third plate for movement therewith.

In still another aspect of the invention, the bed frame member is adapted to be adjusted transversely of its supporting structure to thereby move all of the three plates and attending structure laterally of the supporting means for facilitating transverse alignment of die means supported by the platens and auxiliary equipment such as a feeding nozzle of a head forming part of a plastic extrusion machine.

In still another aspect of the invention, the supporting means for the linkage that connects the one platen and third plate may be adjustably moved longitudinally of the bed frame member to thereby further facilitate the longitudinal alignment of die means supported by the platens and auxiliary equipment.

In still another aspect of the invention, a threaded connector may be provided between the piston and the one platen which can be adjustably moved to provide desired daylight between the platens.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following speci- 2 fication and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a press to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a righthand end elevational view of the press shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a press including a base frame member It? which may be made up of channel members forming a rectangle. At each of the four corners of the member 10, bosses 11 may be provided having cylindrical passages for slidingly receiving tubular posts 12 that may be fixed within shoes 13 that rest on the floor or supporting surface 14.

A cross member 15 centrally of the length of the frame member 10 may rest at its transverse midpoint on the top of a jack mechanism 16. The mechanism 16 may include a top plate means 17 having a threaded shaft 18 extending downwardly therefrom and threaded into the interior of a rotatable worm wheel 19 that is rotatably mounted but axial-1y fixed Within a housing 20 that rests on the floor 14. A worm 21, meshing with worm wheel 19, may have a shaft 22 extending outwardly from housing 20, and a handwheel 23 may be fixed to the outer extremity of shaft 22. From the foregoing it is evident that rotation of handwheel 23 will effect raising and lowering of the frame member 10.

.A rectangular plate 24 having cutout portions 25 and 26 may be mounted on the top of frame 10 and may be releasably held in transverse adjusted position thereon by bolts 27 extending through transversely elongated holes 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The plate 24 may be provided with a keyway 29 that cooperates with a key 30 that is fixed to frame It for guiding the plate 24 in its transverse movement relative to frame 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a boss 31 may support a bracket 32 in the latter of which a threaded shaft 33 is journaled but fixed against axial movement. A square end 34 is provided for applying a crank or wrench for rotating shaft 33. Shaft 33 is threaded into a threaded hole 35 located centrally of the length of table 24 so that upon turning shaft 33, plate 24 can be moved in either direction transversely of the frame 16! when bolts 27 are loosened.

Guides 36 may be fixed to plate 24 along its longitudinal edges by bolts 37 (FIG. 2). The facing edges of guides 36 may be inclined downwardly and outwardly, forming a dovetail guide construction transversely of the plate 24. Three plates 38, 39 and 40 may be provided with shoes 41 at each end of their bottom edges for cooperating with guides 36 and for sliding contact with the top of plate 24. The plates 38 and 39 may be employed as press platens, to the facing surfaces of which may be fixed halves of registering die elements.

The plate 40 may have fixed to it a cylinder 41, within which a piston 42 may be located for reciprocable movement. The piston 42 may have a piston rod 43 fixed to it that extends through a passage 44 in plate 40. The end of rod 43 opposite that connected to piston 42 may be bored and internally threaded for receiving a threaded shaft 45. The end of shaft 45 opposite that threaded to rod 43 may be threaded into a boss 46 that is connected to the plate 39. Lock nuts 47 may be provided for locking threaded shaft 45 to rod 43 and boss 46 for a purpose to be described later.

Referring to FIG. 1, a tie rod 48 may be fixed to plates 38 and 4! by nuts 49 and shoulders 50. The rod 3 48 may slidingly pass through a bushing 51 fixed within a bore in plate 39. Another rod 52 may be fixed to plates 38 and 40 and slidingly cooperate with a bushing 53 in plate 39 in the same way that rod 48 is connected to plates 38 and 40 and slides within bushing 51.

Referring to FIG. 3, lines 54 and 55 may selectively admit pressure fluid to opposite sides of piston 42 within cylinder 41. With the parts in the position as shown, introduction of pressure fluid through line 54 while exhausting line 55 will cause the piston 42 and plate 39 to move rightwardly and the cylinder 41 and plates 40 and 38 to move leftwardly.

Referring to FIG. 3, a vertically disposed plate 56 having a horizontal base 57 may be mounted on plate 24 between plates 39 and 40. The plate 56 may have a central passage 56' through which the piston rod 43 extends. Keys 58 and 59 may be fixed to plate 24 for registry with corresponding keyways within the bottom surface ofbase 57 for a purpose to 'be described later.

Each vertical edge of plate 56 may be provided with aligned arms 60 and 61 extending in opposite directions from plate 56. These arms may be slotted at 62 for the reception of cross bars 63 and 64 having shoes 65 thereon adapted to form cross head slides with guideways formed in arms 60 and 61.

Links 66 and 67 may have their one ends pivotally mounted on bar 63 and their opposite ends pivotally mounted on pins 68 and 69 mounted, respectively, in brackets 70 and 71 fixed to the facing sides of plates 39 and 40. Another pair of links 72 and 73 may have their one ends pivoted to bar 64 and their other ends pivoted, respectively, to pins 68 and 69. An identical set of links 66, 67, 72 and 73 is located along the other edge of plate 56 as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, the plate 56 may be rigidly fixed in adjusted position longitudinally along the plate 24 by bolts 74 and 75 that pass through elongated holes parallel with the longitudinal axis of plate 24. A boss 76 may support a bracket 77 that supports a threaded shaft 78 for rotation but not axial movement. Shaft 78 is threaded into a threaded hole within the base 57. Loosening bolts 74 and 75 and turning threaded shafts will cause plates 56, 40, 39am! 38 to move in unison longitudinally of the plate 24.

From the foregoing it is evident that the linkage 66, 67, 72 and 73 ensures equal incremental movement in opposite directions of platens 38 and 39 when moved by the introduction of fluid under pressure to cylinder 41. Furthermore, varying sizes of registering die halves may be mounted on the facing sides of platens 38 and 39 since the daylight between them may be varied by loosening nuts 47 and rotating threaded shaft 45 relative to piston rod 43.

Additionally, the parting line between the die halves may be adjusted longitudinally of the plate 24 by loosening bolts '74, 75 and turning threaded shaft 78; and the opening leading into the die halves may be adjusted transversely of the base by loosening bolts 27 and turning threaded shaft 33. Finally, the die halves may be adjusted vertically by turning the handwheel 23. It becomes apparent, therefore, that a press has been provided embodying platens that always move incrementally the same distance in opposite directions, and which includes great flexibility of adjustment of the dies along three axes, as well as providing relatively simple daylight adjustment between the platens.

Although the various feautres of the new press have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press, a frame arranged for movement along an axis; telescoping guides at each corner of said frame,

a base mounted on said frame for movement transversely of said frame and in a plane at right angles to the axis of movement of said frame; a pair of platens mounted on said base for movement longitudinally of said frame; means for moving said platens toward and from each other; means located at the midpoint longitudinally and tarnsversely of said frame for adjustably moving said frame, means on said frame connected to the midpoint of one edge of said base for moving said base transversely of said frame; and means on said frame connected to said platens for moving said platens in unison in the same direction.

2. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; and linkage means connected to one of said end plates and said intermediate plate, said linkage means being connected to said base frame in a manner and having dimensions such as to ensure movement of said intermediate plate in proportion to the movement of said end plates when said piston and cylinder are caused to move relatively to each other.

3. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; and linkage means connected to said intermediate plate and one of said end plates, said linkage being also connected to said base frame in a manner, and being of a length for ensuring identical movement in opposite directions of said intermediate and end plates.

4. Ina press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; linkage means connected to one of said end plates and said intermediate plate, said linkage means being connected to said base frame in a manner and having dimensions such as to ensure movement of said intermediate plate in proportion to the movement of said end plates when said piston and cylinder are caused to move relatively to each other; and separate means for adjustably moving all of said plates as a group along three axes at right angles to each other.

5. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; linkage means connected to said intermediate plate and one of said end plates, said linkage being also connected to said base frame in a manner, and being of a length for ensuring identical movement in opposite directions of said intermediate and end plates; and separate means for adjustably moving all of said plates as a group along three axes at right angles to each other.

6. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; linkage means connected to one of said end plates and said intermediate plate, said linkage means being connected to said base frame in a manner and having dimensions such as to ensure movement of said intermediate plate in proportion to the movement of said end plates when said piston and cylinder are caused to move relatively to each other; and adjustable means between said piston rod and said intermediate plate.

7. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; linkage means connected to one of said end plates and said intermediate plate, said linkage means being connected to said base frame in a manner and having dimensions such as to ensure movement of said intermediate plate in proportion to the movement of said end plates when said piston and cylinder are caused to move relatively to each other; adjustable means between said piston rod and said intermediate plate; and separate means for adjustably moving all of said plates as a group along three axes at right angles to each other.

8. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate member mounted on said base frame between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; a linkage system connecting said plate member and the intermediate and end plate supporting said cylinder; and means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said prms to vary the location of the medial position between said intermediate plate and the end plate that does not support said cylinder.

9. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted 'on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate-member mounted on said base frame between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; a linkage system connecting said plate member and the intermediate and end plate supporting said cylinder; means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said press to vary the location of the medial position between said intermediate plate and the end plate that does not support said cylinder; and separate means for adjusting all of said plates along two other axes at right angles to the axis of adjustment of said plate member.

10. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate member mounted on said base frame between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; a linkage system connecting said plate member and the intermediate and end plate supporting said cylinder; means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said press to vary the location of the medial position between said intermediate plate and the end plate that does not support said cylinder; and adjustable means between said piston rod and said intermediate plate.

11. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base [frame between said end plates for recipnocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate member mounted on said base frame between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; a linkage system connecting said plate member and the intermediate and end plate supporting said cylinder; means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said press to vary the location of the medial position between said intermediate plate and the end plate that does not support said cylinder; adjustable means between said piston rod and said intermediate plate; and separate means for adjusting all of said plates along two other axes at right angles to the axis of adjustment of said plate member.

12. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate member mounted between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; guide ways extending on each side of the centerline of said cylinder along each edge of said plate member, each guide way being adapted slidably to receive a shoe member; links of equal length pivoted to each of said shoe members and to means on said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; and means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said press.

13. In a press, a base frame; parallel plates mounted on said base frame at each end thereof for reciprocable movement; a third plate, parallel to said end plates and mounted on said base frame between said end plates for reciprocable movement; a cylinder mounted on one of said end plates; a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod connected to said intermediate plate; means for connecting said end plates for movement in unison; a plate member mounted between said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; lguide Ways extending on each side of the centerline of said cylinder along each edge of said plate member, each gnide way being adapted slidably to receive a shoe member; links of equal length pivoted to each of said shoe members and to means on said intermediate plate and the end plate supporting said cylinder; means for adjustably moving said plate member longitudinally of said press; and separate means for adjusting all of said plates along two other axes at right angles to the axis of adjustment of said plate member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,287 Spauiding Apr. 8, 1902 2,744,304 Kaul May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,223,038 France June 14, 1960 

2. IN A PRESS, A BASE FRAME; PARALLEL PLATES MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FRAME AT EACH END THEREOF FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT; A THIRD PLATE, PARALLEL TO SAID END PLATES AND MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FRAME BETWEEN SAID END PLATES FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT; A CYLINDER MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID END PLATES; A PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER HAVING A PISTON ROD CONNECTED TO SAID INTERMEDIATE PLATE; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID END PLATES FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON; AND LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID END PLATES AND SAID INTERMEDIATE PLATE, SAID LINKAGE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID BASE FRAME IN A MANNER AND HAVING DIMENSIONS SUCH AS TO ENSURE MOVEMENT OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PLATE IN PROPORTION TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID END PLATES WHEN SAID PISTON AND CYLINDER ARE CAUSED TO MOVE RELATIVELY TO EACH OTHER. 